Self-quench superregenerative arrangement



Nov. 27, 1951 D RlcHMAN SELF-QUENCH SUPERREGENERATIVE ARRANGEMENT Filed May 22, 1948 Auolo- REQUENCY AMPLIFIER R E m F NETWO RK 'me INVENTOR. DONALD RICHMAN FIGZ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1951 SELF-QUENCH SUPERRE GEN ERATIV E ARRANGEMENT Donald Richman, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Hazeltine Research, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 22, 1948, Serial No. 28,596

(Cl. Z50-20) 10 Claims. 1

This invention is directed to self-quench superregenerative arrangements andVparticularly, to self-quench superregenerative arrangements which include a resistor-condenser network coupled between the anode and the cathode of the regenerator tube thereof to have developed thereacross a periodic voltage which provides a major portion of the self-quenching action for the arrangement. Such superregenerative arrangements are frequently referred to as anodecircuit self-quench superregenerative arrangements.

Anode-circuit self-quench superregenerative arrangements have been found to provide a higher audio-frequency output than those selfquench superregenerative arrangements which employ in the control electrode-cathode circuit thereof a resistor-condenser network for deriving the periodic self-quench voltage. This results because the output signal of an anode-circuit self-quench arrangement is derived from the anode circuit of the regenerator tube, which circuit includes no impedance networks which may provide a degenerative action for currents of modulation-signal frequencies. lSuch arrangements are desirable not only because of their high audio-frequency output but also because of their simplicity of construction and their inexpensiveness. For some applications of anode-circuit self-quench superregenerative arrangements, the self-quench frequency which is employed must exceed a predetermined value in order to provide satisfactory performance. Heretofore, it has frequently been impossible to obtain with an arrangement of this type a, self-quench frequency which is suiiiciently high to assure such performance.

The control-electrode bias of the regenerator tube of an anode-circuit self-quench superregenerative arrangement must have a sufliciently large negative value to promote the periodic blocking action which is characteristic of such an arrangement. This large negative value of bias is effective to limit the transconductance ob tainable from the regenerator tube to such an extent that operation at the desired high selfquench rates may not be possible. Attempts have heretofore been made to adjust the time constant of the self-quench network in the anode circuit of prior superregenerative arrangements to pror vide a higher quench frequency. This expedient resulted in unstable operation of the arrangement or produced undesired continuous-wave operation-thereof; Y. 4

It is an object of .the invention, ,thereforavto provide a new and improved self-quench superregenerative arrangement of the type described which avoids one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages and limitations of prior such arrangements.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved self-quench superregenerative arrangement of the type described which is capable of producing an output signal of relatively large amplitude.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved self-quench superregenerative arrangement of the type described which operates stably over a relatively wide range of self-quench frequencies.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In accordance with the invention, a self -quench superregenerative arrangement comprises a selfquench superregenerative circuit including a regenerative oscillatory circuit, a regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode and including a first impedance network coupled between the anode and the cathode of the tube. The aforesaid network includes a resistor and a condenser which is responsive to the anode current of the tube and has developed thereacross during each quench cycle a voltage of variable magnitude providing the major portion of the quenching action for the superregenerative circuit to effect alternate build-up and oscillation decay intervals in the regenerative oscillatory circuit, thereby to provide superregenerative amplification of a wave signal applied to the superregenerative circuit. The arrangement further includes a second impedance network coupled between the control electrode and the cathode of the regenerator tube and responsive to the control-electrode current of the tube and including a resistor and a condenser having a capacitance large with relation to that of the first-mentioned condenser that the second network is effective to derive from the control-electrode current and to apply to the control electrode during each quench cycle a voltage effective to provide a supplementary quenching action for the superregenerative circuit.v

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram, partly schematic, representing a complete self-quench superregenerative receiver embodying the present invention Yin a particular form; and Fig. 2 comprises graphs used in explaining the operation of the receiver of Fig. l.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l of the drawing, the superregenerative receiver coinprises a self-quench regenerative circuit including a regenerator tube it having a control electrode II and an anode I2 which are effectively coupled, ina manner to be more fullyv described hereinafter, across a parallel-resonant or frequency-determining circuit I3. The frequency,` determining circuit I3, which comprises theregenerative oscillatory circuit of the receiver in cludes serially connected condensers I4 and I5, which are coupled between the anode If2- ofl thel tube I and ground, and al'soan afdjustableninne ductor I6 which is effectively coupled in shunt of the condenser II.

work; also includes a resistor 32, one terminal of with the condensers Il. and ifvthrough@ a con.'-

denser I1 which presents a low impedance to radio-frequency wave signals. A damping' re sstor I8 is included in the frequency-determining circuit and iscoupledin shuntwith the inductor" I6. This resistor provides suicientlposi` tive damping within the frequency-.determining circuit during each positive-conductance interval as to ensure that the oscillations'A generated therein: i'n each quench cycle decreaseA to; an insignificant amplitude before theinitiationofY a succeeding quench cycle. The tube. iii' has a cathode Ztl-which is coupled' tothe junction of the condensers I4 and I5 and is also-coupled. to ground through a radio-frequency choke. coilv 2l and a parallel-connected resistor 22 andV condenser' 23, morefully tobe considered hereinl after. A switch 2-5 is connected acrosstheresistor 22 for a purpose-tol be explained subsequently;

The"v receiver also includes` a first` impedance network 26--coupled, ina` manner presently to'be explained, between the anode I2 and the cathode 2li of the tube I0; This network includesa. resistor 21, which is coupled! between the damping resistor' I8- anda source indicated as +B, and an energy-storage device comprising` the condenser Il which hasl developedthereacross-during each' quencecyclea voltage of'variable magnitude pro-` vidingthe-major portionof the quenching action forl the superregenerative circuit;` The network 26, therefore, essentially correspondsto a conventional time-constant network inthel anode circuit of the tube-l I'- and has a time constant of! suitable value toeiect ananode-circuit self-- quenching action, thereby controlling: conductance variations of the-regenerativelcircuitito-provide superregenerative operationinthe. saturation-levelmode. The values of theL resistor' 21 and thecondenser Ill are selectedv inthe well known manner to provide av quenchv voltage hav-V ing the desired wave shapel for theparticular application for which the superregenerative arrangement isto'be employed.

The superregenerative receiver also includes a second impedance'network, ordinarily having a time constant which is short with relation tothe timeV constant' of the network 26, coupled between the control electrode II and the cathode oftheE tubeY I0. This second network includes aresistorl and an energy-storage device or condenser. One of the parameters of the second impedancenetwork has a` value so selected withrelation to the impedance valueof therst impedancenetwork 26 that the second network derives, for' application toY the control electrode II during' each quench cycle, a voltage which is effective to' provideY a supplementary quenching action for. the' pacitance of the condenser of the second impedance network is selected with relation to the capacitance of the condenser Il of the network 26 to provide the action just mentioned. This second network may comprise a network 30, including the parallel-connected resistor 22 'and the condenserl 23. coupled` between the.y cathode of tube I0 and ground. Alternatively', this network may comprise a similar network 30' which is coupled between the control electrode I I and ground. The network! includes a condenser 3| coupled between the control electrode II and ground and, inrgeneral, having a value of capacitance greater than that of the condenser I'I, for example one which-.is about ten^times the value of capacitance The last-mentioned net- Which is -`connected to the control electrode II while'the-other terminal thereof is connected to the source +B through a resistor 34. A switch 36 i's-ccupled inshuntwith the resistor 32, and' a serial-ly` connectedl condenser' 315 and a` switch 385 are` coupled between; the control" electrodeV IfIIv and the junction ofl the-res-i`stor21 and the condenser II for a purpcsetolbe explained subsequently.A Y

The receiver furtherV includes athifrd imped ance network 39 for providingstabilizationcfthe operating characteristics'V of' the superregenera-i tive circuit against'variations of operating condi# tions"` which tend' to modify; thel average self@ quench periodicity thereofi This network: in@ cludes the resistor 3Q and a condenser 40 which isl coupledl between groundK and thejunctionL of the' resistors 32 and 35. Thenetwork 39has'- a.

time constantv which is ingeneral longer than that of any of` the networksi 26; 301 or3'f-andal'so longer than the average self-quench/ periodicity7 of the receiver; it'is eiectiveltoprovi'de gridlciif-f cuit stabilization of the typedisclosedfand claimed: inV applicants copending application Serial No; 788,765, led November 28j 1947, entitled? Self-V Quencli Superregeneratve Receiver.l y

Receivedwave'signals are applieditc-*frequency-V determining circuit I37 ofthe receiver by an anr tenna-ground system`- 5U, 5I' whichv is indu'c-:tivelyA coupled to the-inductor |16. Modulation-components ofl the receivedl wave@ signal are derived across theA anodeL resistor 2l1f by theIk operatibnl of? the superregenerativef circuiti and are applied to a low-pass filter networkl 53 which is effective-totranslate the derived components while remove ing the quench-frequency components appearing in the output signalf of the superregenera'tivecir cuit. The outputterminalsl off thefilter networkv 53 arel coupled through a conventional'l audio frequency-l amplier 5I! t'o af Signat-reproducing device 55. Considering now theoperation of the superregenerative receiver just described", andreferring to the curvesof Fig. 2 it`r will be assumed' initially4 that the switches 25' and 3|61are'closed, that thefswitch138' is open, and that' the impedancelnet work 39' provides a predetermined negative'- biasto the control electrode I-I of-the'tube I0. It willY also beassumedv that the'magnitude of theanodef energizing potential'- is increasedA graduallyifrom its zero-value: until it'reaches a` value indicated by the broken line' K X s-hownvinr associationL with curve A of Figa 2; `The magnitude of this potential', when it has the value-last mentioned, is suchthat at a time ti a small anode'lcurrent starts to flow soj that-oscillations are' initiated in: the receiver inthe wellLknown mannen" This; value of the potential may thereforebeireiter-reirl to asthe` anode-voltage cutoi.'lpotenti'alf` level vfor the starting of oscillations. It will be manifest that when the magnitude of the bias potential applied to the control electrode of the tube I0 is increased in the negative direction this anodevoltage cutoff level for the starting of oscillations is shifted in the direction of the -l-B potential level. Conversely the anode-voltage cutoff level will be displaced downwardly toward the zero voltage level as the control-electrode bias is made more positive in value. f

A Assume now that the full voltage of the source +B is instantaneously applied to the receiver. The condenser II then charges in the manner represented by curve A, thereby gradually to increase. the anode potential of the tube Ill, until at time t1 the effect of the control-electrodefbias on the tube I is overcome by the rising anode po-k tential and the tube is rendered conductive. At time t3 anode-current saturation takes place, causing a large ilow of anode current, andthe condenser I 'I thereupon proceeds to discharge through the space-current path of the tube IIl. It continues t0 discharge to a predetermined level which depends on the parameters of the superregenerative circuit. In order for the superregenerative oscillator to block, it is necessary that the anode potential of the regenerator tube I D fall below the X-X level t0 the oscillator cutoff level Y-Y. The anode-voltage cutoff level Y-Y is the level of the average anode voltage at which the circuit ceases to function as a class C oscillator. This voltage level is, of course, lower than the anode-voltage cutoff level when the superregenerative circuit is operating as a class A amplier or oscillator. The anode-voltage cutoff level Y-Y is reached at approximately time ts. The level Y--Y is also determined by the value of the control-electrode bias as well as the oscillator parameters. small in value, there exists the danger that the desired blocking action will not occur at time te but that the anode voltage will simply decrease to some relatively stable and constant value. The receiver then might operate stably as a continuous-wave oscillator having an anode potential of value lying in a region indicated by the brokenline portion A1, instead of having the anode potential appearing across the condenser II increase in the manner represented by the curve A during the interval tis-ta, and then decrease due to the discharge of the condenser I'I through the spacecurrent path of the tube I0.

From the foregoing explanation, it will be clear that the control-electrode bias of the tube Ill must have a value which is sufficiently large to permit periodic blocking of the superregenerative circuit to occur by virtue of the variation in the magnitude of the anode potential effected by the condenser l l. The magnitude of this bias has a direct eifect on the shape of the negative-conductance portion tz-ta of the conductance-time characteristic of the superregenerative receiver which is represented by curve C. In particular the bias limits the maximum transconductance which may be obtained from the tube. When the controlelectrode bias is increased in a negative direction, not only does the area under the negativeconductance portion of the conductance characteristic decrease but also the extent to which the transconductance of the tube Iii increases during the oscillatory build-up interval tz--ts is reduced. Curve D represents the variation of amplitude of the oscillations which are periodically developed in the resonant circuit I3 of the receiver` by the superregenerative action thereof.

If this negative bias is too` Since the gain of a superregenative receiver meas ured in napiers is proportional to the area under the negative-conductance portion of its conductance time characteristic, a high negative controlelectrode bias on the tube I0 results in a low gain for the receiver in a given interval of time. With such a bias on the tube, the time required to produce the gain necessary to reach the saturation level of the superregenerative circuit is relatively long, thus resulting in satisfactory operation only at low quench rates. Consequently, the magnitude of the control-electrode bias on the tube I0 is quite critical. In fact, it is very difficult or frequently impossible under some operating conditions to procure the proper blocking action in the superregenerative receiver when arranged with a xed bias as assumed above. This is particularly true when the operation involves high quench rates since a small control-electrode bias' is required for high gain yet a small bias is conductive to undesired continuous-wave operation..

The shortcomings of the superregenerative receiver when the control electrode of the regenerator tube I0 has a substantially uniform bias thereon, and also the undesirable tendency of the receiver to operate as a continuous-Wave oscillator, may be eliminated by opening the switch 36 thereby connecting the network 30 in operative relation in the receiver circuit.

The operation of the superregenerative receiver with the networks 3B and 39 in the circuit thereof, and with the switches 36 and 38 open and the switch 25 closed will now be explained. The application of energizing potentials to the receiver Within the operating range of values will cause the receiver to operate in the desired superregenerative manner. mal value, the potential developed across the condenser II of the impedance network 26 for application t0 the anode I2 of the tube I0 will increase in value as represented by curve A during the interval ifo-t3. At approximately time t2, the increasing anode voltage causes the conductance of the superregenerative circuit to change from a D positive to a negative value as shown by the curve C. At time t2, oscillations begin to build up in the resonant circuit I3 in the manner represented by curve D and thereafter reach a saturation-level value during the interval ts-te. At time ta the tube Ill becomes highly conductive and the iiow of anode current therein is effective to discharge the condenser I'I and to reduce the anode potential during the interval ts-te as shown by curve A. At time ts, the anode poteny tial has dropped to a suiiciently low level that tube I0 is biased to anode-current cutoff, thus terminating the saturation-level interval. Shortly thereafter at time t7 (curve D) oscillations in the frequency-determining circuit are completely quenched.

At time t4 control-electrode current begins to flow in the tube I0 and a negative bias, which increases in magnitude in a negative direction as represented by curve B (assuming now that the i receiver has been operating for a period of several quench cycles), is developed across the condenser 3I for application to the control electrode Ii of the tube. The relatively large voltage of variable magnitude developed across the condenser I'I of the network 26, and which is shown by curve A of Fig. 2, is effective to provide the major portion of the quenching action for the superregenerative circuit. However, the voltage developed across the condenser 3| during the interval tt-ts, which-i interval substantially corresponds to the'satura-f When the source -I-B has its nor.

tion-level interval, is` of" such magnitudeand? sense: that itl is effectivel materially to-- reduce the transconductanceoffthe` regenerator tube IllV during the saturation-levelinterval and'- thereby provide. a supplementary quenchingV action for the' superregenerative circuit; Accordingly the com-- bined action of the networks: 26 andY 351" makesf it certain that the'- superregenerativereceiver will'f periodically block, thus eliminating the possibility of the receiver operatingasl a continuous-wave oscillator. p

DuringY the interval7 ts-t; the condenser Hf charges` through the resistor 2'! from the source +B`as1shown by curve A and the described? cycle' of"oper'ation1 is repeated; During the same.L i'nterval; the condenser 3`I is discharged through the resistor 32 sotldatl the'- bias appearing across` the condenser 3l becomes less negative as shown byfcurve B; Consequentlyl the transconductanceT of the. tube i materiallyincreaseddningthis interval; and' particularly` during' the nega-tiveconductance interval ofthe receiver when it is most desirable to procurel a high superregenera-r tive gain. It will be seen, therefore, that the voltage level developed across the condenser- 3l' for' application tothe control electrode of theA tube Iiis'a gain-control potentialvarying inthe same sensel as the 'voltage developed acrossy the con'- denser l1 but is: smallerin magnitude with rela tionv thereto. Thiszgain-control voltage isei'ective tu. provide; a; desired supplementary quenching action for the superregenerative circuit, andv pref'- erably hasa peak-to-peak value which isY from 5': to150 per cent of'that valuewhich' theY peak-t0- peak: control-electrode voltage would have if the quenching." action were to-be completely-v produced thereby in the control electrode-cathode circuit of; a similar superregenerativereceiver.

A supplementary quenching action similarl to` thatjust described-is providedv by the network when the switch. 251 is opened, so that the network;3ll isconnected in the-cathode circuit ofthe tube, the switch being then closedI eie'ctively to remove the network 30?"V from the superregenerative. circuit. The network Sli-responds'to the anode current ofthe tube lrand derives there;- fromza voltagefofvariable magnitude which when applied to` the control-f electrode of the tube H corresponds to that represented by curve B.

When the switches 25V andv 381 are' closed and' the-switch 36 opened, the impedance network 3Q' willalso respond to changes in the anode-voit'- age of the tube land developa voltage'ofvarigableifmagnitude which is so` related toI the voltagel developedacross the condenser i'lof the network 26 that a supplementary quenching action is afforded by the networkv 30. TheA condensers 3'1" and 3| act as a voltage divider and derivev avolttage'across the condenser'3l` which varies inthe same .sense as, but having a value small" with relation to, the voltage produced across the condenser l1.

Consider. now the operation of'thesup'erregenerative. receiverV whenV a wave signal is applied" to the.: frequencyedetermining; circuit' I3 by the antenna system 55, 5l andi when thefstabili'zing; network. 39 is;V performing' its desired'l function; The' oscillatory build-up interval of each self" quench period. of the superregenerative circuit-l` tends., to bedecreased by the received signa-1f since the signal'. amplitude is greaterI thanthe`7 thermaliagitation; noises of the receiver; That is; the4 oscillations tend to build upk to the saturation leveliiamplitude. sooner their. whenV no: signa?r @Enlieditoi the r3; For. reasenawell known;

thistends to eectfanA increase-of the self L-quencli periodicity: ofj the receiver.-

more fully ex# plainedz in applicants previously mentioned copending applicatiom. variations in the operating conditions tozwhichV the. receiver is: normally sub jectedin operation. (such as: variations ofpotenitialVv of? the: source +B or variations. of theaverageamplitude. off'the received wave signal). undesira bly. tend to-` modify." the;V average.`= self-quench periodicity of the receiver. However; forfreasonsA more. fully described in applicants above-mentioned application, the. impedance. network-39' is responsiveA to the: control-electrode; current: flowing. inl the. network during. each saturation-level interval of the superregenerative: circuit: toI de1- velop and appl-y tothe control electrode; I l` ofi the tube Il),v a. gain-control potential whichzmaint'ains. the average. self-quench frequency.Y substantially constant; This; stabilizesL the.' operating` char acteristics ofthe receiver against variationsioff. the` typei mentioned above. The selfi-quenchlperiodlof. the superregenerative circuitis able, however; to;- vary dynamically in accordancewith theamplitude modulation of. the received; wave signal'. rEhese dynamic variations of ther quench rateare manifest asdynamic Variations of the anode cur-'- rent of the-tubedlfilz. Accordingly, this current may bey utilized to derive; the modulation components of the. received Wave signali In particular; the:- modulation components. aredeveloped across the resistor 27, are applied. through the lternetwork 53 to the audio-frequency'amplier 54 forfamplif cation. therein, and. ar thenv` translatedi toi the signale-reproducing device 55.

Becauseoi the action of the network 35 or3l and; the network. Z6 in providing aV high transe' conductance for. the tube- |51 during the negativeconductance. intervals, received. wave' signals are given avery high rate. of amplication bythe superregenerative receiver. The receiver is able to develop suflicient superregenerative gainto assure reliable operation athigh quench frequencies. Because. the modulation components of. the; receivedy signal are derived in the anode circuitofi the. tube lil; and also because the con'- denserrltl` in the stabilizing network 3epresents an. extremely low.v impedance to the audio-frerquency components of theireceivedV signal; degenv eration o the derived' modulation components. does not: occur; Thei reduced transconductance 0f; thetubef l'lieiected' by the network 30 or 30" and the network 26 during'the discharge. interval of the condenser il' assures the desired' intermittent, blocking' or. quenching action of the superregenerative. circuit over a wide range of quench frequencies: including the higher quench frequencies. These'. operating characteristics, effected bythe; action of. the networks 3i) orV 3H" and 25, permitA the values ofthe resistor 2lJ and thel condenser. Il` of thel primary quench-deter` network'. 25E toY be;- selected witha. considerable degree. of freedom. Such may be'desir'- able', for' example, to provide: a quench voltage havingv a desiredr waveshape and thereby: to providel a. desired conductance time characteristic forthe receiver.V Thus', since the.- slopeof the conductance.. characteristic as it passes through .zerov value. frorn positive to negative values is effective to determine the "selectivity ofy the receiver the freedom with which the parameters oi` the network Z5 may beselected readily permits the attainment of a quench-voltagev wave shape. which assures a desired selectivity characteristic for-f the receiver;

While applicant does not intendl` to limit the` invention to any particular design constants, the following values have been found suitable for a particular embodiment of the invention:

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be manifest that a self-quench superregenerative arrangement in accordance with the invention is capable of producing an output signal having a relatively large amplitude. It will be further apparent that a self-quench superregenerative arrangement embodying the present invention is capable of operating stably over a relatively wide range of self-quench frequencies..

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-quench superregenerative arrangement comprising: a self-quench superregenerative circuit including a regenerative oscillatory circuit, a regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode and including a rst impedance network coupled between said anode and said cathode, said network including a resistor and a condenser which is responsive to the anode current of said tube and has developed thereacross during each quench cycle a voltage of variable magnitude providing the major portion of the quenching action for said superregenerative circuit to effect alternate build-up and oscillation decay intervals in said regenerative oscillatory circuit, thereby to provide superregenerative amplification of a wave signal applied to said superregenerative circuit; and a second impedance network coupled between said control electrode and said cathode and responsive to the control-electrode current of said tube and including a resistor and a condenser having a capacitance large with relation to that of said firstmentioned condenser that said second network is effective to derive from said control-electrode ycurrent and to apply to said control electrode during said each quench cycle a voltage effective to provide a supplementary quenching action for said superregenerative circuit.

2. A self-quench Superregenerative arrangement comprising: a self-quench superregenerative circuit including a regenerative oscillatory circuit, a regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode and including a first impedance network coupled between said anode and said cathode, said network including a resistor and an energy-storage device which is responsive to the anode current of said tube and has developed thereacross during each quench cycle a voltage of variable magnitude providing the major portion of the quenching action for said superregenerative circuit to eiect alternate build-up and oscillation decay intervals in said regenerative oscillatory circuit, thereby to provide superregenerative ampliiication of a wave signal applied to said superregenerative circuit; and a second impedance network coupled between said control electrode and said cathode and responsive to the control-electrode current of said tube and including a resistor and an energystorage device having an energy-storage value sufficiently greater than that of said first-mentioned device that said second network is effective to derive from said control-electrode current and to apply to said control electrode during said each quench cycle a voltage effective to provide a supplementary quenching action for said superregenerative circuit.

3. A self-quench sunerregenerative arrangement comprising: a self-quench superregenerative circuit including a regenerative oscillatory circuit, a regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode and including a iirst impedance network coupled between said anode and said cathode, said network including a resistor and an energy-storage device which together have a predetermined time constant and which are responsive to the anode current of said tube such that there is developed across said device during each quench cycle a voltage of variable magnitude providing the maior portion of the quenching action for said superregenerative circuit to effect alternate build-uo and oscillation decay intervals in said regenerative oscillatory circuit, thereby to provide superregenerative ampliiication of a wave signal applied to said superregenerative circuit; and a second impedance network, having a time constant which is short with relation to said predetermined time constant, coupled between said control electrode and said cathode and responsive to the. control-electrode current of said tube and including a resistor and an energy-storage device having an energy-storage value so selected with relation to that of said first-mentioned device that said second network is effective to derive from said control-electrode current and. to apply to said control electrode during said each quench cycle a voltage effective to provide a supplementary quenching action for said superregenerative circuit.

4. A self-quench surerregenerative arrangement comprising: a self-quench superregenerative circuit including a regenerative oscillatory circuit, a regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode and including a first impedance network coupled between said anode and said cathode, said network including a resistor and an energy-storage device which is responsive to the anode current of said tube and has developed thereacross during each quench cycle a voltage of variable magnitude providing the major portion of the quenching action for said superregenerative circuit to eiect alternate buildup and oscillation decay intervals in said regenerative oscillatory circuit, thereby to provide superregenerative amplification of a wave signal applied to said superregenerative circuit; and a second impedance network so coupled between said control electrode and said cathode as to be primarily responsive to the anode current of said ,75 tube and including a resistor and an energy-storatroces ihaving an energy-.storage valuesudevice ,that said second 4network .is :effective ito derive :from said l.anode current .and to .apply to vsaid -.control electrode during said .each quench `cycle ia voltage fefiective to .provide ,a supplementar-y quenching action orsaid -superregenerative circuit.

-5. A self-quench .superregenerative arrange- `nient comprising: a self-.quench .superregenerative Vcircuit including a regenerative oscillatory ecircuit, .a .regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, .and .a control .electrode and including ,a .rst impedance network coupled between' said anode .and said cathode, said network including Y a ,resistor ,and an .energy-.storage .device which is responsive to thevanode current of said tube and has developed thereacross during each quench v.cycle .a voltage of variable magnitude providing the .major portion `oi the quenching action forL said superregenerative circuit to effect -alternate vbuild-up and Yoscillation decay intervals in said l regenerative .oscillatoryrcii'cuit th'erebyito provide .superfregenerative ampliiication of .a wave signal -applied to saidsuperregenerative circuit; a condensercoupled betweensaid controlgelectrodeiand said yiirs't impedance network.; anda second irnpedance network included in'thecontrol-electrode circuit ofY said tube and comprised Aby a resistor land an energy-storage device having anenergystorage value sufiiciently greater than that of said Yinst-mentioned device that said second network vis effective to derive from said voltage and to vapply to said control electrode `during said -each quench cycle a second voltage eiiectivefto provide Aa supplementary quenching 4action for said 4superregenerative circuit. Y Y n y 6. A self-quench superregenerative arrangenient comprising: a self-quench superregenerative circuit including a regenerative oscillatory vcircuit, a regenerator tube having `an anode, a cath- 10de, and a control electrode and including a first impedance network coupled between said anode and said cathode, said network including a resistor and an energy-storage device which is're- .A

sponsive to the anode current of said tube and yhas developed thereacross 'during each lquench ycycle a voltage o'f variable 'magnitude providing `the rnajor portion of 'the quenching action for `said -superregenerative circuit to effect alternate E -build-up and oscillation `de-cay'intervals Tin said regenerativey oscillatory circuit, therebyilto provide ssuperregenerative 'amplification of fa wavefsignal applied to :said superregenerative icircuitz; and ca lsecond impedance network coupled between lsaid .control-electrode and saidcathode and responsive -to the control-electrode current of-said tubeand -including'a resistor and an'energ-y-storage device rhaving an energy-storage -value substantially V-ten itirnesas great as that of said nrst-inentionedidement comprising: a self-quench superregener` ative circuit including aregenerative oscillatory circuit, a regenerator .tube .having an anode, ,a cathode, and a control Aelectrode and including a `Iirst impedance network coupled between .said

v.anode and said cathode, .said networkiincluding a .resistor y.and an energy-storage device which .is responsive to the anode currentof said tube 'and Vhas developed thereacross during said each Vquench cycle-a Avoltage of variable magnitude providing the major portion of the quenchingac'tion vfor said superregenerative circuit to effect alter-i .vicethatsaid second network is eective to 4derive Sie nate build-up and 'oscillation decay intervals :in said regenerative oscillatory circuit, thereby to provide'superregenerative ampliiication'of awvave signal applied t0 said superregenerative circuit, the parameters of said Vsuperregenerative ycircuit being so proportioned that the oscillatory amplitude of said Awave signal extends to 'a 4saturation level during an interval of each 'quench cycle-:and a second impedance network coupled 'between said control electrode and Vsaidcathode"ands-re'- sponsive to the control-electrode current of 'said tube and including'a resistor and an energy-storage device having lan :energy-storage Avalue 'sufH nciently'greater'than that of said first-mentioned .device Ythat said second network is leffective to .derive from said control-.electrode current and .to apply to said control electrode Aduring .said each '.quenchfcycle a voltage having -a variable mag- .nitude so related -to .thatof said kfirst`mentioned V.voltage `that said second-mentioned voltage .effective to V:produce ya high transconductancetfor said tube during the :oscillatory building 'interval of .said .superregenerative circuit and a lower transconductance :for said tube during the :saturation-levelinterval of said 'superregenerativercircuit, wherebyy said second-mentioned -voltage .pro-

vides -a :supplementary quenching `action :for .said

' super-regenerativecircuit.

8. .--A self-quench superregeneratve arrange- Vmentcomprising: aiself-quench superi'egenerative circuit, .including ya regenerator tube `having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrodeciorlprovidi-ng superregenerative amplification ici Ya wave .signal applied thereto, the oscillatory vamplitude `Lof :said circuit extending -to a saturation-level .mode of .operation during an :interval of each quench cycle; a :nrst Atime-.constant network c011-I pled between said anode and saidcathode and-ine cluding a resistor and anenergy-:storage ydevice whichhasdeveloped thereacross duringfsaideecli quenchcycle :a voltage of variable-magnitude pro- `viding the major portionof -thefquenchingfaction for saidsuperregenerative circuityasecond timeconstantnetwork, having .a time-,constant shorter than .that of said .iirst network,vcoupled between 4saidcontrol electrode and said cathode sandincluding a resistor and an energy-storage device having an `energy-.storage value so .selected with relation to that of .said tirst-inentioned-.device that said second network is eiiective to derive jvandtci vapply to saidcontrol .electrode :during said :each quench cycle a voltage effective .to provide `a supplementary quenchingaction for saidfsuperrefenf verative circuit; .and a third `time-.constant net'- work, .having Aa `time .constant longer than .that` of said .first-or said second networks, coupled loe#- tween .said controlelectrode:andsaid cathode-and responsive to ,an electrode .current :of Csaid .tube flowing .during .atleast the.saturation-leveLintervals of said supeiregenerative.circuit Yfor .developingand applying ito said 4control electrode again-` control potential effective to stabilize .the operat .ing characteristics of said arrangement against operating conditions which tend to fmodify the average self-quench frequency of said arrangement.

9. A `self-quench superregenerative farrangeinent comprisingza self-quench superregenerative circuit, including a regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode, for providing superregenerative amplication of a Wave signal applied thereto, the oscillatory amplitude of said circuit extending to a saturation-level mode of operation during an interval of each quench cycle; a rst time-constant network coupled between said anode and said cathode and including a resistor and an energy-storage device which has developed thereacross during said each quench cycle a voltage of variable magnitude providing the major portion of the quenching action for said superregenerative circuit; a second timeconstant network, having a time constant shorter than that of said first network, coupled between said control electrode and said cathode and including a resistor and an energy-storage device having an energy-storage value so selected with relation to that of said first-mentioned device that said second network is effective to derive and to apply to said control electrode during said each quench cycle a voltage effective to provide a supplementary quenching action for said superregenerative circuit; and a third time-constant network, having a time constant longer than that of said first or said second networks, coupled between said control electrode and said cathode and responsive to the control-electrode current of said tube iiowing during the saturation-level intervals of said superregenerative circuit for developing and applying to said control electrode a gain-control potential efective to stabilize the operating characteristics of said arrangement against operating conditions which tend to modify the average self-quench frequency of said arrangement.

10. A self-quench superregenerative arrangement comprising: a self-quench superregenerative circuit, including a regenerator tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control. electrode, for providing superregenerative amplication of a wave signal applied thereto, the oscillatory amplitude of said circuit extending to a saturationlevel mode of operation during an interval of each quench cycle; a rst time-constant network coupled between said anode and said cathode and o 14 including a resistor and an energy-storage device which has developed thereacross during said each quench cycle a voltage of variable magnitude providing the major portion of the quenching action for said superregenerative circuit; a second timeconstant network, having a time constant shorter than that of said rst network, coupled between said control electrode and said cathode and including a resistor and an energy-storage device having an energy-storage value so selected with relation to that of said first-mentioned device that said second network is effective to derive and to apply to said control electrode during said each quench cycle a voltage effective to provide a supplementary quenching action for said superregeneratve circuit; and a third time-constant network, having a time constant longer than that of said iirst or said second networks and longer than the average self-quench periodicity of said arrangement, coupled between said control electrode and said caihode and responsive to an electrode current of said tube iiowing during at least the saturation-level intervals of said superregenerative circuit for developing and applying to said control electrode a gain-control potential eiiective to stabilize the operating characteristics of said arrangement against operating conditions which tend to modify the average self -quench frequency of said arrangement.

DONALD RICHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,071,950 Reinartz Feb. 23, 1937 2,135,672 Morris NOV. 8, 1938 2,226,657 Bly Dec. 31, 1940 2,230,465 McAllister Feb. 4, 1941 2,407,394 Birr Sep. 10, 1946 2,410,768 Worcester Nov. 5, 1946 2,412,710 Bradley Dec. 17, 1946 2,476,090 Hershinger July 12, 1949 

